Transcripts For CSPAN3 Federal 20240703 : vimarsana.com

CSPAN3 Federal July 3, 2024

Officials from the Social Security administration, National Archives and state department testified about federal services backlogs due to the covid19 pandemic. Modernization efforts and staffing issues. The House Oversight and accountability subcommittee hearing is about three hours. The subcommittee on Government Operations and federal workforce will come to order and we will welcome everybody to this board hearing. Without objection the chair may declare recess at any time. I recognize myself forthe purpose of making an open statement. Before we go to the floor id like to if i can acknowledge that even formal settings like this we recognize that its important to remember we are all people. And we have families and understand that some of the people who do Business Today have been visited by some hard luck in their life with a loved one and without saying anything in particular. Perhaps many of us more than one or two are affected and its my wishes for them and their family in these coming days that can be difficult to families so i will offer that and would just let that ride there. But when you receive information like this, i feel like its the right thing to wish everybody the best. Todays hearing is on Customer Service agencies selected as federal agencies. The covid pandemic invited a stress test for agencies in many ways an earlier this year we heard how fraud driven presentation measures failed in covid relief programs. That was a subcommittee hearing we did was on a bipartisan basis where we universally heard about the frailties of not only some of the governments actions also the impact that prevented measures from being fully understood as hundreds of billions of dollars being lost. But another stress test was they delivered services to the American People and as a person who worked in the private sector for a number of years that have a public opening to them, i will tell you i do recognize difficult it is to not only match manpower with incoming needs of customers but also to do so in a difficult time. With that said, we are here today to make sure we have a clear understanding about not just what is behind us but what lies in front of us and the daunting challenge each of the members of congress as we attempt to also do business with the government on behalf of many constituents that we have. I want to try and be fair. It would not be fair to look back without the benefit of hindsight and in recognizing what our nation would be through. But today we also all recognize that theres some bit of experience that weve been through that we need to recognize that we must do better and i know its impossible and impractical for us in each and every circumstance, nonetheless it is our duty and my duty not just as a member of congress as the chairman of this subcommittee to ask sometimes tough questions. To make sure that we give straight answers. To know that we will report back to our constituents, but also to work with you on making sure that we move forward better. First, are the backlogs. Are they being retired, are they behind us, are theyahead of us . Disruptions, inefficiencies, uncertainty all these things are questions that will be asked today but overwhelmingly this congress has asked and i believe we did it at the end of the last congress for you to be prepared with a master plan. What your plan is and in some way we want to ask how that is going. Its not a measuring stick, its an expectation. Its not a measuring stick that will tell us that we know the problems that youve encountered rather how we work together. As members of congress wehear the frustrations of those unable to access government services. And they have come to rely on the government and you are a part of the daily life too many times of people who need to do business and interact with government and it needs to be done directly and on time. On behalf of our constituencies one of us up here and there will be others who join us today were able to learn about these things. And also about how you ask the manager of the business are going to fix them. The second is are we prepared for the next emergency western art and while covid by and large we heard about something may happen when it did it seemingly took us at a disadvantage. I think being behind is one thing. I think catching upis another and being prepared for what is tomorrow is also important. Perhaps your answers will mean Better Technology. Perhaps your answers will be help with more people. Perhaps your answer will be we have learned a lot and we will be prepared but this should be a part of what i hope today is that you will be able to talk about. The processes that are required in work obviously are ones approved. Weve seen those, we know them but i would remind you that in most peoples minds covid was over 2 years ago the federal government needs to get back to work. The work rules and regulations that have been of the past few years are old and do not meet todays marketplace. And i believe Government Employees while they are entitled to their opinions, if theyre going to take an honest days pay they should work and honest day within the work structurethat is best for the American People. Its not just a telework debate. Its an efficiency ratio that the federal government needs to maintain for all its employees. So were looking at three agencies today, the National Congressional Records Center, cost of Affairs Bureau and Social Security administration. I know that there are different circumstances and yet there are some common denominators about this and that is your people do the work. Your people, professionals as Government Employees, experienced people determine the success or failure of your department the American People expect you, them and us to make this work. So we will enjoy hearing from all three of you. As you may know ive extended from 9 55 minutes for each of you. You dont have to use all 10 minutes i do expect you not to run out of time by saying you really wanted to Say Something else. We sincerely want to hear from you today. We sincerely want you to admit things that need to be said and we will not hold back from you understanding where we are im eager to hear the specifics about the agency plan and i want to thank each of you for taking time. Before we start you and i wish to yield to the distinguishedgentleman , Ranking Member, the gentleman is recognized. I appreciate the opportunity. I want to thank you for convening this hearing and our witnesses are seated before us and obviously members of this committee who feel verydeeply about this issue. I think its fair to say or all of us that americans deserve nothing short then Top Tier Customer focused accessible and Efficient Services from their government. Today we convene to discuss the topic that impacts veterans, that impacts grandparents, all of us rely on our federal agencies as a lifeline and there are quite a few people rely on us in that way. We both it to our constituents, to the American Public to keep our commitment fluid and discussing agency backlogs its important to take note of a timeline eating up to our current crisis. In 2017 the Previous Administration implemented a nearly threemonth governmentwide hiring freeze. Some agencies maintain their hiring freeze was substantially longer such as the state department where the freeze lasted for 16 months. The freeze constricted as we all know the job market and destroyed employee more ill and Employee Welfare in many respects. However since then we have been playing a game of catch up and most agencies have struggled to hire enough staff even in the midst of record low unemployment. The American Federation of Government Employees reports in fiscal year 2022, the Social Security administrations workforce is one of the smallest its been in 25 years. And yet we know that the number of people on Social Security, people who rely on those benefits to pay for food, to pay for medicine has increased bymore than 10 Million People in the past decade. This increase in beneficiary for lack of staff has extended wait times to where they unfortunately and regrettably are today. The Social Security administration is headquartered in my district in Baltimore County and for example in the state of maryland processing times increased by roughly 105 percent and thats in a period from 2019 to 2022. Further extending processing time from 106 days to 218 days. The issues of low staffing and long processing times shared across almost all Customer Service focused federal agencies and im sure all of you can attest to that. The passport demand is still at record highs putting never get stress on the agency. Last month secretary blinken testified before the Appropriations Committee noting the state department is getting 500,000 applications a week for passports and noting that his 30 to 40 percent higher than it was last year so these are really alarming statistics no matter how we look at them when it gets back to whether or not we are delivering the kind of Customer Service that we should be. Demand is skyrocketing yet staffing and resources remain static. The most vulnerable communities are the ones that usually aredisproportionately affected by these types of issues. If we look at our veterans , the stifling backlog at the National Archives and records demonstration, National Personnel Records Center says it could be the difference between receiving military benefits and not receiving them at all. It could be the difference between receiving assistance in a homeless shelter for a veteran or living out on the street. And what really pulls that my heart are the countless constituent stories that in particular my District Team relays to me each and every week as we go through our weekly staff meetings. There is one case id like to quickly call to the attention of those that are here and we will just select a better term and say this is andrews story. Andrew as multiple sclerosis. He contacted our office in brewery 2020. Filed his disability claim in 2019 three years prior and received a favorable decision in 2021. Yet the Social Security administration would not release his benefits. So my district staff and myself got involved. We were able to work with the agency and to finally after all that time secure andrew the benefit he not only desperately needed but that he was entitled to. The best process extended nearly a year after he had already received a favorable decision from the agency. In the end, the Social Security administration provided him with 86,000 in retroactive benefits that he was owed and i would ask mister chairman unanimous consent to send the cbs article that details andrews case and further details how we were able to successfully intervene with. Without objection. My office and every member of your can give you stories about what theyve been receiving on the ground with real people every day. My office has opposed 544 social administration cases, 683 passport cases since july of last year and that demonstrates not just the service but it demonstrates i think a tremendous need on behalf of our constituents for federal Agencies Service for federal employees. One of those employees i have come to appreciate because of the way shes helped intervene in matters like that are miss Lauren Hughes serves as a Public Affairs specialist and a phenomenal asset to the Social Security administration and to the Congressional Office in that region. So i could go on and on but suffice to say thats why democrats and republicans have set aside Party Differences and did so several years back to pass the modernizing Government Technology act of 2017. Authorized the Technology Modernization fund and secured nearly 1 billion in investment into the fund the issues here are more than just funding and more than just staffing. The issue really becomes vision. Do we have the vision as a government to empower all of our assets , carry out their task and missions with respect to constituent services and with respect to being able to make sure what they are set up to deliver they do deliver. I look forward hearing the strategizing need at congressional level and at end of the day make ago real and lasting difference. I yield back. I appreciate the comments from the distinguished Ranking Member and well tell our guests today that we would like to approach this from this side of the dias in the same way that mr. Mfume spoke about it and that is from a perspective of we care very much about the agencies and work they do. They have found themselves in the circumstance where people that need them have worked together. Id like to thank our three witnesses for all being here. The assistant secretary of state for Consulate Affairs are in a bitter. Scott levens, director of national personal center. Chad poise and director of budget finance and management. As i introduce all three of them, i want to thank femme for allowing our staff to come on site and to learn more about their operations to see firsthand about not just the circumstances with the relationship of the employees of learning about the jobs. Assistant secretary better has head the state department of consumer let Affairs Since august of 2021. Were among other roles shell receive administration in the United States task system. She brings decades of diplomatic experience to her role, having previously served in several overseas posts including United States United States ambassador of laos and had a opportunity to speak with her and reconnected with one of my friends, two of my friends id been to college with and had a state Department Career assistant secretary bitter, thank you for expecting me to follow up with them as i know you did. Director of National Archives and Records Administration since 20116789 at nprc he overseas personal related records for both military and Civil Service of the United States government. Mr. Levens brings over 20 years of service at National Archives to his role in leading the nprc. Mr. Chad poise was named director this past may. Welcome to the job congratulations on the new role and he serves as Social Security administrators chief Financial Officer and Performance Improvement officer and he brings decades of experience in Government Finance and management roles and similar roles that Social Security administration and United States department of commerce and the department of defense so thank you very much. Levens id ask you all three rise to be sworn in and raise your right hand and solemnly swear or affirm the testimony youre about to give is the truth, nothing but the truth so help you god. Let the record reflect that all three of the witness haves answered in the affirmative. Thank you very much. I think you may be seated. Thank you very much. Im going to be calling on you here but as you know, youll be given the time weve spoken about and we have a clock system, which is easy for you to understand like a traffic light and we would move first to the gentlewoman from the state department for her opening testimony. Gentlewomans recognized for 10 minutes. Thank you so much, chairman sessions, Ranking Member mfume and other esteemed members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the work of the state Departments Bureau of cons lori harmon affairs and to express my appreciation for the support we received from members of congress and staff for our mission. It is a tremendous honor to be here today to represent the work and the bureau of affairs and oversight of the federal work force. Public servants of the bureau serves 24 hours a day, seven day as week in 29 passport agencies and centers domestically and 240 embassies and consulates overseas. We are home to nearly one in five Civil Service employees in the state department and are geographically diverse bureau serves u. S. Citizen interest and supports the u. S. Economy across the U

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